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Paulette and Ray Nardelli moved to the community a year ago from Houston. This was their first time signing up for a Wii Bowling event, but not their first time playing the computer-generated sport.

"We played in Ohio over Christmas at our son's house," Paulette Nardelli said, "and we thought we would try it (here)."

Her style was gentler than her husband's, who put everything into his release.

"He's been known to sheer the heads off the pins sometimes," she said.

The popular activity attracts real-life bowlers as well as those content to use the small handheld bowling remotes.

At the table next to the Nardellis, Lois Mulholland was doing her usual joshing of teammates while breaking 200 in the first game. Her 211 proved to be the best in the room, garnering her a small trophy and a ticket to an upcoming Sun City movie. During the second game, she said she wished she could translate her Wii Bowling to the real lanes in Bluffton.

"It's fun. You get to meet people, harass people," Mulholland said. "I've seen people bring their grandchildren to play. It's something that everybody can do."

As good as she is, Mulholland said there is one person who makes everyone groan when she comes in to play.

"I'm not sure anyone else has, but Ann Wells has had at least one perfect game," she said. "She always wins the prizes."

Ann and her husband, Kirk, are regulars at Wii Bowling, but tickets are at a premium -- limited to 16 players for both the 6 and 7:30 p.m. games. The Wellses were unable to get tickets for the delayed matches and plan to make the next Wii night Feb. 26.

Prizes go to the highest score and the person with the most strikes in the first game only, but having a bad night isn't always a bad thing.

Gerry McDonagh also won a trophy and a movie ticket for having the lowest score.

"It's fun and all in good spirit," McDonagh said. "Nobody takes it seriously. And it's exercise."

Tickets for Wii Bowling can be purchased for $5 at Lifestyles in Pinckney Hall.